Pitt Accelerated BSN

tothc2 · Sep 8, 2011

OH! And I got a 100% on the first competency exam! Almost everyone did though. This just goes to show that they make sure that you know what to do. They honestly want you to go to clinicals and know what the heck you're doing. So now we are starting neuro assessments and drug administration next!

spore2008 · Sep 8, 2011

WHAT? Someone dropped out of the program already! Do you know why? I was told there was a ZERO attrition rate. How many students are in your classes? What is the male vs female breakdown?

Great job on your first exam. Builds confidence.

Very interesting about the learning process. You teach yourself and then are corrected? Or you are oriented to the material and then receive a demonstration from the instructor? Sounds daunting....what if you teach yourself incorrectly?

I am disturbed to hear someone dropped. Couldn't be because of bad grades, though.

tothc2 · Sep 9, 2011

Yeah. I think she wasn't dead set on being a nurse in the first place and she was just overwhelmed. There was another woman who dropped out in the group that graduated in December. I definitely don't think it's a zero attrition rate... There are now 26 in our class. 3 guys and 23 girls. But in the class that graduated in december there were ~7 guys out of 24.

You are assigned readings and videos to watch and homework to complete. Then you come in and have a fast paced lecture that covers the major ideas and this (along with the lab) is your chance to address any questions you have. Then you go to lab and practice. Then you have a test. Haha. I don't think you can really teach yourself something horribly. The videos allow you to see everything performed step by step. And the videos correlate to the books so you can always go back and read over something if you didn't understand it in the videos, or vice versa.

I don't think you have anything to worry about. It's just A LOT of time and work. Like today I was in the hospital from 6:45 to 3:30 and then in class from 4-7. It's just long. Next semester we'll have days where we are there at 6:45 and aren't done until 9:30 - nights, saturdays... Just know that you will have a LOOOOONG year. Haha. But it's A TON of fun so far! So be excited!

spore2008 · Sep 9, 2011

Congratulations on (almost) another week finished! Has your class bonded? Study groups? How is the clinical portion? Which hospital are you currently at?

Also, I am curious, are you sure about such long clinical days (7am to 9.30pm)? The advisor never mentioned being in clinical until 9.30pm or on weekends...she did say that psych may have a Saturday but it would only be for a couple of weeks.

Are you overwhelmed? Do you feel centered? And do you like the way your uniform fits?

I really appreciate your time to answer my questions. I am getting a better "feel" for what is coming down the pike!

tothc2 · Sep 9, 2011

Hmmmm... class bonding... Well, you will have a partner in lab. You will know that person the best I think. Or, you will know their body like the back of your hand! Haha. I've had my hands down the pants of half of my classmates... And I've had my hands on most of the girl's chests... Haha. It sounds very strange... but you are practicing everything on each other. I am a guy and I think it is much more weird for the guys. Especially during cardiopulmonary exams. Everything you do HAS to be on skin. The girls maybe felt a little awkward palpating the men's femoral pulses. But the class is definitely bonding and getting to know each other really quickly. You will know your clinical groups really well straight away also. Like I've said before, everyone in this group is older and there isn't any sort of competition or cliques. Everyone is there to learn and to help each other learn.

The clinical hours aren't from 6:45 to 9:30. Next semester we have class and clinicals on the same day. So half the day is class and half is clinicals. You will have psych, peds, ob, medsurg, etc. All in the same semester. Now, I am not sure if the clinical instructors will be keeping us there for that long or not... I'll let you know when I'm there.

I am not overwhelmed. I do feel centered. For now. I am in front of my work load at the moment. We had a quiz in nutrition today. We have our first test in pharm, our neuro homework due, a PICO question with 2 primary data sources, plus a ton of reading in every class - all for next week. But I feel capable of doing it all. There will be weeks where we're going to have 3-4 tests and homework and reading and we'll all probably feel like just starting to walk and not stop until we hit the coast... haha. But we're having fun at the moment so I'm going to enjoy it while I can. I also think I had a really strong foundation for this program from my undergraduate degree. There are some people with english degrees or something similar and this is all very new to them. So, maybe you'll come from where I did and it won't be so bad?

sully23 · Jan 13, 2012

Hi,

I was wondering if either or you could let me know what the typical week is like as a student in the accelerated BSN program at Pitt. I will be starting their in the fall. Also, do most students live in Oakland or the suburbs of Pittsburgh?

And I was also wondering what type of student you are considered when in the program, I am assuming an undergraduate? I just wanted to double check.

Thanks in advance for your help!

spore2008 · Jan 16, 2012

Hi Sully23,

Congratulations on your decision to attend Pitt's Accelerated Second Degree Nursing Program.

I started the Accelerated Program at Pitt on January 4, 2012.

Everyone in my cohort-all 27 of us-are considered undergrads. (This is strange to me as I spent over 7 years in grad school getting a PhD! I am an undergraduate student all over again.) This is point is important because your status as a student has implications for the type and amount of funding you are entitled to from the government. For financial aid, you will be a fifth year undergrad.

Almost everyone is local to the Pittsburgh metro area. Many students commute to school. I may be one of the only out-of-staters. I moved to Shadyside from NYC a few months ago. My trip to school is painless. Others are in their cars for an hour or so.

My weekly schedule is brutal. I hope you are a morning person. Mondays class is from 8am-6.30pm; Tuesdays 9am-4.30pm; Wednesdays 9am-11am; Thursdays and Fridays 6.45 am-3.30pm. Thursdays and Fridays are clinical days. Of course, the schedule changes each term.

If you have more questions, please ask away. I remember I felt more settled once a student answered mine.

Spore

sully23 · Jan 19, 2012

Hi Spore2008,

Thank you so much for getting back to me!!! Having a current student answer my questions will be unbelievably helpful, I really appreciate it!

I was glad to see in your post that there are only around 27 students in each cohort. I come from a small liberal arts schools, so still having a relatively small class size will be nice.

Also, in terms of your schedule. Do you find all the work doable in the amount of time you have? And you start clinicals your first semester? I can't wait to get into the hospital. And based on your schedule would you recommend living in Oakland if possible? I am starting to investigate where I should live.

And last question for now. If I have already taken Nutrition is there a way to somehow get my credit accepted for this course that you know of or will I just most likely have to take it again?

Thanks again for all your help and congrats for being on your way to your BSN! :)

Sully23

spore2008 · Jan 19, 2012

The weekly class schedule is intense. Mondays I am in class from 8am until 6.30pm, Tuesdays 9am to 4pm, Wednesdays 9am-11am and then same minor committments; Thursdays and Fridays are clinical days and we are in the hospital from 6.45am until 3.30pm. We have not had any exams yet. Our first one is tomorrow.

If you can live close to campus or on a bus line, I'd recommend it. This way you can sleep later on clinical days! I live about 2.5 miles from the nursing school. Sometimes I drive, sometimes I take the bus.

If you have already taken Nutrition, you will likely take a 1 credit independent study which involves some homework and attendance at 3 lectures (partial) during the course of the semester.

For clinicals we are divided into groups of 7 students. I know those students a bit better.

FYI, I'd say about half of the class is in their early twenties, about a quarter just graduated from undergrad. I am over 30 and about quater of the class is in that age range. About a quarter of the class is male. Almost everyone is from PA...I am not.

Any other questions, just ask.

Spore

sully23 · Jan 30, 2012

Thanks so much for getting back to me! I hope your first exam went well! One other question I had was how much is tuition for the program for out of state students? Thanks!

spore2008 · Jan 30, 2012

Hi Sully23,

Tuition is about 42-44K.

I had to take out loans: both subsidized and unsubsidized from the US government. Be proactive and fill out your FAFSA. I had to take out about 4K in private loans to cover the difference.

Also, I do not know if you are male, an underrepresented minority, or financially challenged. There was a scholarship of 10K offered to 4 students in my class and for the class before me. Hopefully, the scholarship will still be offered. Since I do not fit into any of those categories, I did not apply for the aid. There is very little tuition assistance for second degree students.

My cohort is about 1/4 male. About 1/4 is about 30years and older (max 36), probably about 1/2 are in their early twenties (just graduated or 1-3 years out of undergrad). Most folk are from PA (in state tuition) though some have moved to Pittsburgh in the last few years or so.

I am older and from out-of-state. A true career changer.

Good luck. And any other questions, please ask.

Spore

devorahna · Dec 7, 2015

I realize this is an old post, but I am curious how everyone who graduated from Pitt ABSN managed the program. After being is school/ clinicals all day how many hours of studying did you do at night? Was the work overwhelming? Did you have time to manage your home life as well? I have two kids who will be in school/daycare during the day, but they need attention at night, and there are household things like cooking/laundry that need to get done. Is this managable?